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In their paper The Benefits of a Big Tent: Opening Up Government in Developing Countries, J Goldstein and J Weinstein argue for a “big tent”; one term under which open data and open government communities can pursue a common goal. I … Continue reading →

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There has been a great deal of debate and dialogue on the data revolution. Regardless of the definition we arrive at, it is likely that the revolution will not wait for the post 2015 agenda to be agreed upon. The … Continue reading →

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“To take part in the African revolution it is not enough to write a revolutionary song; you must fashion the revolution with the people” Ahmed Sekou Toure There continues to be a great deal of dialogue and debate on … Continue reading →

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Let’s not kid ourselves. Although many of us are still trying to figure out what the data revolution is and what it looks we know a few things about what it’s not. One of those things is that it is … Continue reading →

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Sometimes we just don’t have the sense to stay in our lanes. Literally and often metaphorically. It’s probably why this quote attributed to Jack Ma of Alibaba Group resonated with me so much that I turned it into my desktop … Continue reading →

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Recently I lost a relative in what seemed to be a case of profit-first-service-later after he was turned away by a private hospital. He had been run over by a car and was now sent to the Kenyatta National Hospital … Continue reading →

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I recently had the honour of participating in the Dialogue on Data for accountability within the post-2015 agenda framework earlier this year in New York. Organised by the UNDP, it was refreshing to be amongst people who were for the … Continue reading →

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Those of us who have been involved in open data and the broader open government space may believe ourselves to be too sophisticated to believe the ‘build it and they will come’ approach will work with civic tech. However, for … Continue reading →

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Bandying latin phrases around maybe a sign I have had too much coffee to drink. Nevertheless, I can find no short way to ask “who stands to gain?”. Altruistically speaking, Access to Information Laws, open data policies, open government efforts…they … Continue reading →

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There’s a game I play with my kids. I turn off the lights, shut the door and hide in another room, waiting for the first one brave enough to turn on the lights, venture out and find me. They giggle … Continue reading →